House Demolitions

The Bedouin community in the Negev-Nagab is subjected to an ongoing state policy of house demolition. State demolition of Bedouin houses can be traced to the Israeli Planning and Construction Law of 1965. In the wake of this legislation, various planning bodies defined land uses throughout Israel. The entire region containing the unrecognized villages was demarcated exclusively for agriculture, that is, not for residential use. Despite the land having been inhabited for years, all of the houses located in these villages were retroactively deemed illegal. Far from sufficient to meet the needs of the broader Bedouin population, the seven governmental planned towns established by Israel are already unable to accommodate their own natural growth. Government decisions in the past ten years, including the recognition of 11 villages, have likewise failed to remedy the Bedouin housing crisis. In practice, most of the newly recognized villages lack detailed outline plans; houses that existed prior to official recognition are still deemed illegal. Indeed, only a small number of construction permits have thus far been issued in these villages.

NCF publishes its annual “House Demolition Policy” report every year. For the2017 report “Negotiation” Under Fire House Demolitions as a central tool of dispossession and concentration of the Bedouin community in the Negev/Naqab click here.

Record of House Demolitions and Crop Destruction, 2018

May 9 – al-ʿArāgīb, Bedouin unrecognized village west of route 40 between Lehavim and Goral junctions, one house was demolished.

March 25 – Khašim Zannih, Bedouin unrecognized village south of route 25,one house was demolished by its owner.

March 25 – ʿAbdih, Bedouin unrecognized village near Ein Ovdat, crops were destroyed.

March 22 – al-ʿArāgīb, Bedouin unrecognized village west of route 40 between Lehavim and Goral junctions, all shacks were demolished.

March 20 – as-Sirrah, Bedouin unrecognized village near Nevatim airbase, crops were destroyed.

March 19 – Tal ʿArād, Bedouin unrecognized village near Arad, crops were destroyed.

March 18 – Saʿwah, Bedouin unrecognized village near Hura, crops were destroyed.